Superior Mediastinal Metastasis Research Articles

Long non-coding RNA SPRY4-IT1 as a promising indicator for three field lymph-node dissection of thoracic esophageal carcinoma

BackgroundEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC) is one of the most common tumors worldwide. Esophagectomy with three-field lymph node dissection(3FLND) is the radical surgical procedure for esophageal cancer. However, 3FLND is not widely used due to it’s higher mortality rate and higher incidence of postoperative complications. There is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers that can guide the most proper lymph-node dissection in esophageal cancer patients.MethodNinety-two patients with thoracic ESCC undergoing 3FLND were enrolled into our study from the Department of Thoracic Surgery of the Fourth Hospital affiliated to the Hebei Medical University and Hebei General Hospital between Jun 2011 and Dec 2015. Retrospectively collected data from these 92 patients was used to explore the relationship between the lymph-node metastasis、recurrence and the SPRY4-IT1 expression level and to determine whether 3FLND should be performed in patients with thoracic ESCC.ResultsThe findings revealed that the SPRY4-IT1 expression was significantly higher in esophageal cancer tissues than in adjacent noncancerous tissues. (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the high expression of SPRY4-IT1 was significantly correlated with tumor differentiation (P = 0.029), T classification (P = 0.013), lymph node metastasis(P = 0.022) and pathological stage (P = 0.001). The increased expression of SPRY4-IT1 was associated with a higher risk of cervical and superior mediastinal lymph-node metastasis(P = 0.039).However, no significant association was observed between the risk of cervical and superior mediastinal lymph-node recurrence and the SPRY4-IT1 expression level in the thoracic ESCC patients performed 3FLND(P = 0.509).ConclusionsOur data support the assumption that the high expression of SPRY4-IT1 is associated with a high risk of lymph node metastasis and it has potential application as a indicator for guiding on three-field lymph node dissection in patients with thoracic ESCC. Randomized controlled trials with a large cohort of patients will be needed to confirm this conclusion in the future.

Management of the Patient with Functioning Superior Mediastinal Metastasis From Follicular Variant of Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

&lt;p&gt;Superior mediastinal metastases are relatively uncommon findings in patients with well-differentiated thyroid cancer. We report a case of metastatic follicular variant of papillary thyroid cancer (FVPTC) in superior mediastinum which continued to produce thyroid hormone and was radioiodine avid without stimulation after thyroidectomy. A 62-year old woman presented for radio ablation therapy following thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma. She underwent detailed examination including imaging and fine-needle aspiration cytology revealed a superior mediastinal mass of functioning metastasis from thyroid carcinoma. The post-therapeutic whole-body scan showed intense uptake of radioiodine (&lt;sup&gt;131&lt;/sup&gt;I) in the metastatic lesion. A literature review reveals that FVPTC has a greater preponderance than papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) for distant metastases and that the majority of mediastinal metastases from either FVPTC or PTC are localized to the superior mediastinum. These lesions should be differentiated from the commonest mediastinal masses. They are very important to recognize as early recognition can lead to accurate and prompt diagnosis leading to timely treatment. The functioning metastases associated from differentiated thyroid cancer with euthyroidism or hyperthyroidism can be treated effectively with &lt;sup&gt;131&lt;/sup&gt;I without increasing TSH stimulation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Bangladesh J. Nuclear Med. 20(2): 143-150, July 2017&lt;/p&gt;

Impact of superior mediastinal metastasis on the prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

The impact of lymph node (LN) metastasis on survival or tumor recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of superior mediastinal metastasis on the prognosis of patients with PTC and to identify any correlations between such metastasis and clinical indicators. Medical records of PTC patients who underwent surgery as their initial treatment between 1981 and 2008 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with or without superior mediastinal metastasis were selected. Prognosis was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox-hazard regression model with the forward stepwise method. Correlations between multiple factors and superior mediastinal metastasis were investigated using a binary logistic regression analysis. The study cohort included 488 patients of whom 75 (15.4%) had superior mediastinal metastasis. The survival differences between patients with superior mediastinal metastasis dissected via the transcervical approach and patients without metastasis were not significant. The prognosis of patients with superior mediastinal metastasis dissected by sternotomy was significantly poorer. As for disease-free survival, significant differences were found between patients with superior mediastinal metastases dissected by either method and patients without metastases. The main variables predicting superior mediastinal metastasis were an age of 45 years or older and the total number of cervical LN metastases. Superior mediastinal metastasis was an independent predictive factor for recurrence-free survival in PTC patients. The main variables predicting superior mediastinal metastasis were being 45 years of age or older, and having a greater total number of cervical LN metastases.

Cervical lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma

To study the patterns of cervical lymph node metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Ninety-one patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma first treated between January 1999 and October 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. Of 91 patients, 39 cases presented with clinical negative node (cN0) and 52 cases with clinical positive node (cN+). Central compartment dissection was performed in all cases. Lateral neck dissection was performed in 52 cN+ cases (71 sides). All neck dissection specimens were obtained and analyzed for lymph node (LN) involvement with respect to neck levels. The distribution of LN with metastasis was studied in cN+ patients and the following factors were used to study the predictive value of central compartment LN metastasis: sex, age, family history, tumor size, bilateral tumor, multifocality of the tumor, extracapsular spread, and remote metastasis. Univariate analysis with the χ(2) test was used to analyze the statistical correlation between central compartment LN metastasis and other clinical factors. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors related to central compartment metastasis. Neck and bilateral neck metastasis rates were 73.6%, 19.8% respectively. Metastasis rates in central compartment and superior mediastinal region were 68.1% and 27.5% respectively. The central compartment metastasis rate was 33.3% in cN0 patients and 94.2% in cN+ patients. The superior mediastinal metastasis rate was 2.6% in cN0 patients and 46.2% in cN+ patients. Extracapsular spread was an independent predictive factor for central compartment metastasis (χ(2)=15.592, P=0.000, OR=12.876). The incidences of LN metastases at level II, III, IV, V were 62.9%,84.5%,83.1%,50.0% in cN+ patient, respectively. Multi-sites were involved. The possibility of lateral neck metastasis was higher when preoperative value of calcitonin was higher than 300 ng/L (66.7% vs 28.6%, χ(2)=5.771, P=0.016). Cervical lymph node metastasis of medullary thyroid carcinoma is higher. Central compartment dissection is necessary in cN0 patients with extracapsular spread. Neck dissection from level II to level VII was necessary in cN+ patients. Preoperative value of calcitonin maybe can predict the lateral neck metastasis incidence.

Elective superior mediastinal dissection for laryngeal carcinoma involving subglottis

Conclusion: Despite the low incidence of superior mediastinal metastasis (SMM) we recommend elective superior mediastinal dissection (ESMD) and close follow-up for all patients with laryngeal carcinoma involving the subglottis, because higher peristomal recurrence (PR) rates and lower survival rates were observed in the presence of SMM numerically even though statistical support was lacking. Background: This study was undertaken to identify the incidence of SMM and to evaluate the need for ESMD in laryngeal tumors involving the subglottis. Methods: Medical records of patients who had undergone total laryngectomy for laryngeal carcinoma were reviewed retrospectively and 68 patients (45 with ESMD and 23 without ESMD) who had pathologically proven subglottic involvement were included in the study. Results: SMM was found in 3 of 45 (6.6%) patients who underwent ESMD. The PR rate was higher in patients with SMM (66.7%) than in patients without SMM (9.5%) and the presence of SMM was significantly related to PR (p = 0.043) in univariate analysis. However, this relationship was not preserved in multivariate analysis. The 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with SMM were lower (both 66.7%) than patients without SMM (83.3% and 76.2%, respectively), but decreased survival rates did not differ statistically from the survival rates of 42 patients without SMM.

The Impact of Superior Mediastinal Lymph Node Metastases on Prognosis in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Located in the Right Middle Lobe

We aimed to assess hilar and mediastinal lymph node involvement and its impact on prognosis in patients with right middle lobe lung cancer. The records of 170 patients undergoing surgery for right middle lobe non-small cell lung cancer from 1980 to December 2007 were retrospectively examined. There were 45 patients found to have hilar or mediastinal lymph nodes metastases. This subgroup included 31 N2 patients and 14 N1 patients, and included 23 women and 22 men, whose ages ranged from 32 to 83 years (median = 61 years). The status of mediastinal, hilar, and interlobar lymph nodes was assessed according to the seventh edition of the TNM classification for lung cancer. Patient records were examined for age, gender, preoperative nodal status, surgical procedure, metastatic status of lymph nodes (distribution and numbers), tumor size, and histologic features (cell type and differentiation degree). Survival duration was defined as the interval between surgery and death from the tumor or the most recent follow-up. For N1 cases (n = 14), the most frequent metastatic site was #12m (lymph nodes adjacent to the middle lobe bronchus), which occurred in 11 cases; there was one case with metastases in #11s (lymph nodes between the upper lobe bronchus and bronchus intermedius), and no case with #11i metastases (lymph nodes between the right middle and lower lobe bronchi). The most frequent metastatic mediastinal zone was the subcarinal zone (25/31), and the superior mediastinal zone also had a high incidence of metastases (22/31). Sixteen cases had metastases to both the superior and subcarinal zones, and six cases had metastasis to superior mediastinal zone without subcarinal zone metastasis. When #11s or #11i was involved, eight of nine or five of five, respectively, were N2 cases. Univariate analyses revealed that tumor diameter, cN, status of lymph node metastases, and operative procedure (pneumonectomy) were significant prognostic factors in N2 cases. Regarding status of lymph node metastases, superior mediastinal zone metastases, both superior and inferior (subcarinal) zone metastases, and #11i were significant prognostic factors. Because #11i metastases and superior mediastinal lymph nodes metastases were highly correlated with each other (p = 0.02), two separate models were used in multivariate analyses. Superior mediastinal metastases (p = 0.03) and #11i metastases (p = 0.015) were revealed to be significant independent prognostic factors, whereas multiple-zone metastases only tended toward significance as an adverse prognostic factor (p = 0.054). Superior mediastinal lymph node metastases and #11i metastases were significant adverse prognostic factors in patients with middle lobe lung cancer, and they were associated with each other.

Subcarinal lymph node in upper lobe non-small cell lung cancer patients: Is selective lymph node dissection valid?

Little is known about selective lymph node dissection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. We sought to gain insight into subcarinal node involvement for its frequency and impact on outcome to evaluate whether it is valid to omit subcarinal lymph node dissection in upper lobe NSCLC patients. We reviewed node metastases distribution according to node region, tumor location, and histology among 1099 patients with upper lobe NSCLC. We paid special attention to subcarinal metastases patients without superior mediastinal node metastases, because their pathological stages would have been underdiagnosed if subcarinal node dissection had been omitted. We also assessed the outcome and the pattern of failure among subcarinal metastases patients. To identify subcarinal node involvement predictors, we analyzed 7 clinical factors. Subcarinal node metastases were found in 20 patients and were least frequent among squamous cell carcinoma patients (0.5%). Two of them were free from superior mediastinal metastases but died of the disease at 1 month and due to an unknown cause at 18 months, respectively. Seventeen of the 20 patients developed multi-site recurrence within 37 months. The 5-year survival rate of the 20 patients with subcarinal metastases was 9.0%, which was significantly lower than 32.0% of patients with only superior mediastinal metastases. Clinical diagnosis of node metastases was significantly predictive of subcarinal metastases. Subcarinal node metastases from upper lobe NSCLC were rare and predicted an extremely poor outcome. It appears valid to omit subcarinal node dissection in upper lobe NSCLC patients, especially in clinical N0 squamous cell carcinoma patients.

Superior and Basal Segment Lung Cancers in the Lower Lobe Have Different Lymph Node Metastatic Pathways and Prognosis

Although the lower lobe is a large entity that occupies half of the hemithorax, all tumors located within the lower lobe have been treated uniformly regardless of tumor location. The aim of this study was to reveal differences in the metastatic pathway to the mediastinum and in prognosis of N2 disease between lung cancers originating from superior and basal segment of the lower lobe. Data on 139 patients who underwent pulmonary resection with systematic nodal dissection for pN2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) originating from the lower lobe between 1980 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Those lower lobe N2 tumors were divided into two groups by origin: 51 were superior segment, and 88 were basal segment. The superior segment group showed a significantly higher incidence of superior mediastinal metastasis than the basal segment group (64% vs 36%, p = 0.0012). When superior mediastinal metastasis existed, the basal segment group showed a significantly higher incidence of synchronous subcarinal metastasis than the superior segment group (81% vs 39%, p = 0.0006). Pneumonectomy was required significantly more often in the superior segment group than in the basal segment group (45% vs 17%, p = 0.0003). The basal segment origin tumors with only subcarinal metastasis showed significantly better prognosis than other lower lobe N2 tumors (5-year survival, 43% vs 18%; p = 0.0155). Basal segment tumor metastasizes to the superior mediastinum mostly through the subcarinal node, whereas superior segment tumors often metastasize directly to the superior mediastinum without concomitant metastasis to the subcarinal node. Superior mediastinal dissection will be mandatory for accurate staging of superior segment tumors even when the subcarinal node is negative on frozen section. As for the prognosis among lower lobe N2 tumors, only in cases with basal segment tumor without superior mediastinal metastasis may long-term survival be expected.

The new strategy of selective nodal dissection for lung cancer based on segment-specific patterns of nodal spread

A new strategy for selective nodal dissection in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients according to the segment of primary tumor was explored. Data on 504 patients with NSCLC of less than 5 cm, histologically revealed to be N2 disease after thoracotomy, were analyzed. In right upper lobe (RUL) tumor, when the pretracheal node was negative, the incidence of subcarinal involvement was 3.8%. In lower lobe tumor, superior segment (RLL-Superior and LLL-Superior) tumor showed a significantly higher incidence of superior mediastinal involvement than basal segment (RLL-Basal and LLL-Basal) tumor (right, P=0.0036; left, P=0.0499). When the subcarinal node was negative, the incidence of superior mediastinal metastasis in RLL-basal and LLL-Basal tumor was 11% and 8%, respectively. In left upper lobe tumor, superior segment (LUL-Superior) tumor showed a significantly lower incidence of subcarinal involvement than lingular segment (LUL-Lingular) tumor (P=0.0381). When aortic nodes were negative in LUL-Superior tumor, the incidence of subcarinal metastasis was 6%. Collectively, in RUL and LUL-Superior tumors, subcarinal dissection may be unnecessary if superior mediastinal node is negative. In RLL-Superior and LLL-Superior tumors, extensive dissection is required. In RLL-Basal and LLL-Basal tumors, superior mediastinal dissection may be unnecessary if subcarinal node is negative.

Lobe-specific extent of systematic lymph node dissection for non–small cell lung carcinomas according to a retrospective study of metastasis and prognosis

Background: Complete lymphadenectomy of the mediastinum is advised for patients with lung cancer to provide prognostic information and possible survival benefit. The proper extent of dissection should be further defined. Method: The lymphatic metastatic patterns according to the primary site and prognoses were retrospectively analyzed in 166 patients with non–small cell carcinoma who underwent at least lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymphadenectomy. All patients had histologically proven mediastinal metastasis (pN2). Results: Among 54 right upper lobe tumors the most common site of metastasis was the lower pretracheal station (74%), whereas metastases to the subcarinal station were seen only in 13%. Among 8 patients with right middle lobe tumors and 41 patients with right lower lobe tumors, both superior mediastinal and subcarinal stations were involved. The 34 left upper segment tumors metastasized to the aorticopulmonary window most commonly (71%) and to the subcarina only in 12% of cases. Inversely, the 10 left lingular tumors metastasized to the subcarina most commonly (50%) and to the aorticopulmonary window only in 20% of cases. Among 44 left lower lobe tumors the subcarinal station was most common for metastasis (58%), with infrequent metastases to the aorticopulmonary window. The 5-year survival for all 166 patients was 35%. Patients with single-station and single-node metastases had a significantly better prognosis than those with more extensive metastases. Right lower lobe tumors with superior mediastinal metastasis carried a particularly poor 5-year survival of only 4.1%. Comment: Subcarinal lymphadenectomy is not always necessary for tumors of the right upper lobe and left upper segment. For tumors of other lobes both superior mediastinal dissection and subcarinal dissection are advised. However, superior mediastinal metastasis should be recognized as an indicator of poor prognosis in tumors of both lower lobes. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;117:1102-11)

CT EVALUATION OF THE CHEST IN SUPERIOR VENA CAVA OBSTRUCTION

Conventional radiological investigation of suspected superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction may include the use of plain films, linear or complex motion tomography, and contrast or radiocolloid superior venacavography. However, the etiology of obstruction and the local extent of the obstructing process may prove difficult to evaluate at times. Six patients with clinical signs and symptoms of SVC obstruction were evaluated with CT examination of the chest in order to identify the cause of obstruction and assess the extent of the obstructing process within the chest. Contiguous CT sections were obtained at 1 cm intervals with 1 cm collimation from the lower cervical region to the diaphragm. Prior to scanning, 200 cc of 30 percent meglumine diatrizoate was infused intravenously into an antecubital vein. An additional 100 cc of this contrast material was continuously infused during scanning. Superior venacavograms were obtained in two patients. CT correctly identified the obstructing lesion in all six cases. Three patients demonstrated direct superior mediastinal extension of previously diagnosed poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the lung. One patient exhibited superior mediastinal nodal metastasis from a bronchogenic carcinoma of the right upper lobe. CT in two patients showed extensive calcification in the right hilum and superior mediastinum without evidence of mass lesion. These two cases were diagnosed by mediastinal biopsy as chronic calcific fibrosing mediastinitis. The local extent of the obstructing lesion, an important parameter in planning possible surgery or radiation therapy, was accurately determined. The presence and pattern of collateral circulation was established. Collateral flow through both the superficial parietal and the azygous-hemiazygous systems was well visualized. CT of the chest is useful in evaluation of clinically suspected SVC obstruction. It may determine the location, local extent and probable etiology of an obstructing process. The pattern of collateral circulation may be established and particular vessels identified by their cross-sectional location. Illustrative CT findings and correlation with chest radiographs and superior venacavograms will be presented.